Traction device.



E. W. WIGKBY.

TRAGTION DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1908. v r v Patented May 4, 1909.

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E. W. WICKEY. TUTION DEVICE. APPLIOATIONVIILED AUG. 3, 1908. 920,5 1 0, Patented May 4, 1909.

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EDWARD'W. WIOKEY, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA.

TRACTION DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1909.

Application filed August 3, 1908. `Seria1No. 446,753,

description.

This invention relates to improvements in traction devices and designs to provide a traction device of improved construction.

It relates more particularly to improvements in that'class of traction devices in which endless traveling aprons or tracks are substituted for the traction wheels of excavating machinery, traction engines, agricultural machinery and the like, where he desideratum is to have a long, flat bearing surn face for travelinv upon low, marsliy soil.

One lof the objects of this invention is to increase the sustaining` powers of such device, to reduce friction, to minimize the danger of breakage of the parts, to strengthen and otherwise improve upon structures of this class. o

Another object is to provide an anti-fric tion device between the endless apron' and the supporting frame whereby the load may be transmitted from said lianie dii'ectly through the body of the anti-friction device to the endless apron.

To suc'li end this invention consists iii the several novel features of construction and arrangement which are fully described in this specification and definitely pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings furnished herewith, in which- Figure l is a side view oi the traction device embodying my improvements with the main cross beams and driving shaft ol the structure in cross section. Fig. 2 a vertical. longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 oiE Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the vertical liiie3-3 ol 'Fi-g. l. Figa 4 is a plan view of the device with a por! tion of the apron broken away to illustrateA` parts which would otherwise be hidden from view. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragment of the endless apron and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a rail block of slightly modified form.

In these views A A are the two inain cross beams of the structure which it is desired to Support and propel by means oi traction de- Yigeflidtheeb'eams iorinjthe supports for which is secured on the endless apron. n

shown, this rail consists in aseries of alined the platforms upon which is carried the operating machinery etc. olthe structure. It is obviousthat any sort of machinery and operating devices can be carried by said beamsf The drawing shows only one of the.. traction devices, but it is evident that one or more may be used upon either side of the structure to be carried thereby. The cross beams A, support two track bars 2, 3, which form a track frame l, upon which the entire load of the structure is carried. The track bar 3, rests directly upon a series ofrolling elements, preferably in the form of anti-friction rollers 4, and said rollers travel upon the endless apron 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the'drawin s, the weightbein transmitted from the trac frame to the end ess apron directly through the bodies of the i'olling" ele ments 4. The ends of the track bars 2', 3, are rounded oi` to permit the rolling elements to pass around the ends thereof and if desired guide strips l, may be secured between tlie ends of the upper and lower track bars to form a continuation of the track from bar to bar.

Two longitudinally extending bars 6are supported upon the cross beams A, and carry journal boxes 7, at points adjacent to their ends in which boxes are journaled shafts 8, 9, which bear apron carrying wheels 10, 11,

which are preferably formed with teeth upon -thereby. As shown in the drawingseach 'tie has secured upon it a link 14, which links are joined togetherl in the manner of the ordinary link belt chain and pass around the wheels 10, 1i. lt is quite evident that rotation of the toothed. wheel il, in one direction will cause the endless apron to unfold iroiii its lower edge and iuove around the two toothed wheels, thus propeliiig 'the structure along the ground.

The rolling elements 4, are preferably Hanved asshown and travel upon a raxil r s blocks 15, secured, upon theinner l'ace of the endlessapron.' One end of each of said blocks-I-gsopreferbly notched out. 16, to rev from the rolling elements and said rollers are so connected as to form an endless band or chain of rolling anti-friction devices. This endless band passes around the track trame 1, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the upper series of rollers carries the upper bight of the endless apron while the lower series of rollers transmits the load from the 'frame directly to the apron.

The advantages of this construction are readily apparent. The load is transmitted lrom the track frame to the endless apron directly through the body of the rolling elements which avoids the necessity ot supporting the structure on the axles of the rollers, the axles forming mere connecting pins for the links 17 a. The danger' of snapping ot' the 'small axles oi' rollers is thus done away with, thereby greatly improving the machinery and increasing its strength and durability. The rolling elements are wholly independent of the frame or apron except.

that they are interposed between them to transmit the load from the frame to the apron. They roll upon the frame and upon the 4apron and move bodily with respect Vto both in their movement around the framey 1.

l am aware that various alterations and vnmdi'tications of this device are possible without departing from the spirit of this invention, and l do not therefore desire to limit myself except as may be necessitated bythe state of the prior art.

I claim as'new and desire to secure by lietters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, an endless apron comprising cross ties having rail blocks secured thereon and a chain connecting said ties, wheels carrying said apron, and fianged,

'traveling, rolling elements interposed hetween said frame and apron and arranged to bear directly upon the frame and apron and arranged to bear directly upon the-frame and rail blocks of the'apron, whereby the load from the frame may be transmitted diametrically through the rolling elements to the apron.

2. In a device of thev class described7 the combination of a track trame, apron carrying ranged to form a rolling connection between said track frame and apron.

ln a device of the class described, the

combination of a track frame, two toothed wheels carried by said frame one of which wheels is a driving wheel, an endless apron surrounding said track frame and carried by the toothed wheels and comprising cross ties having rail blocks secured thereon and a chain connecting said ties, and a series of` guide rollers between said track frame and rail blocks adapted to form a rolling connection between the track frame and apron.

4. ln a device of the class described, the combination of main cross beams, wheel Supporting bars and a track frame comprising upper and lower tra'ck bars carried by said main cross beams, apron carrying wheels journaled on said wheel supporting bars, an endless apron comprising cross ties having rail blocks scoured thereon and a chain connecting said ties, and a vseries of traveling, connected rolling elements interposed between said track bars and rail blocks and arranged tdform' a rolling connection between said track trame and apron.`

'5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a track frame supporting toothed wheels, sprocket chains, cross ties secured to said sprocket chains, rail blocks secured upon said cross ties and connected traveling rollers interposed between said track frame and rail blocks, forming rolling eler'nentsV between the track frame and apron.

6. In a device iot the class described',` the combination of a track frame, toothed wheels supported thereby, an endless apron comprising sprocket chains, cross ties and rail blocks carried by said toothed Wheels, a se ries of traveling rollers' interposed between the track frame and rail blocks yand arranged` to form a rolling connection between the track frame .and endless apron, and links connecting said rollers.

' ln witness whereof l have executed the above application at East .hicagq county. of Lake, and State of' Indiana, this 22nd day of July 1908.

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Vif'itnesses z l A. O'rrnnnnnvrnn, NnLLin Scor'r.

i Correction in Letters Patent No. 920,510.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 920,510, ,grantedl May 4, 1909, upon the-application of' Edward W., Wickey, of East Uhicago, Indiana, foren improvement in,` Traction Devicee, an error appears inthe printed speeicavtion requiring correction, as follows: In lines 55 alnd 56, page 2 the words and apron anni arranged to bea directly'upon the frame Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent officie.

Signed end sealed this 18th day of May, A. D., 1909.

[SEAL] o. o. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

should be stricken out; and that the said Letten@` 

